Gove secret email row escalates

Leaked emails from Michael Gove's private account spark dispute over whether ministers have to disclose official business sent privately

Gove used an email registered in the name of his wife Sarah Vine (David Jones)

Four former Whitehall officials are at the centre of an investigation into who
leaked emails that sparked a row over the use of private internet accounts
by Michael Gove, the education secretary, and his key advisers.

All the civil servants worked for the Department for Education and at least
one is now advising a senior Labour figure. Chris Skidmore, a Conservative
MP, has written to Sir David Bell, the department’s permanent secretary,
demanding he investigate one of the four.

The former officials are among those suspected over a series of leaks over the
past year, culminating in the publication last week of emails sent by Gove
and Dominic Cummings, a special adviser, using internet addresses outside
the government network. The use of these accounts could result in civil
servants being cut out of discussions and, some in the government argue,
emails being exempt from release under the Freedom of Information